“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

---

Happy Good Friday, everyone! ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The Bible teaches us that the sinless One (Jesus Christ) became sin (or a sin offering) in our stead so that the punishment rightly due to us for our sin would be atoned for and satisfied in Him. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The contemplation of the suffering and agony of Jesus’ crucifixion is difficult to behold: mockery, scorn, and extreme pain and anguish due to the flogging of His body, the tearing of His flesh, the crowning of His head with thorns, and the nailing of His hands and feet. These things, the Christ—that is, Jesus—endured for us. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It’s all too easy to have a sterilized, cleaned-up image of the cross. But without a real picture of Jesus’ suffering, we won’t fully understand the seriousness of our sin before our holy and just God, nor can we fathom the richest depths of God’s love and grace and mercy. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Don’t shy away from His pain; it is both an agonizing and beautiful picture of the extent to which God’s love will go to reconcile us into relationship with Him through the impartation of His own righteousness. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Let it also be an encouragement to us, too, that in our own suffering, we are in good company with the One who suffered for us. And in it He sympathizes and empathizes with us, and in it also are we glorified with Him. (see Hebrews 4:15 and Romans 8:17-18).⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Be blessed today, friends, as you contemplate and meditate the agony, the mystery, and the glory of Christ’s crucifixion. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Jesus willingly endured it for us all. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
For further reference, check out Ephesians 4:2, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Romans 5:8, 1 John 2:2 and 4:10, and Hebrews 12:1-2.⁣⁣

References:

Holy Bible: English Standard Version, Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2011.